Step 2 - Compound, using 3M Perfect-11 Rubbing Compound, Fine Cut
I used my new Porter Cable Buffer on this.
This picture shows the line-up of all of the products I am using.
This is the compound and my buffer using an orange cutting pad. These are nice pads, and I wore this one slam out. Along with myself, LOL.
Here is another shot of the hood before we start.
We are now ready to get started, I first wet the pad with some water. Then spread some of the compound out on the hood. I then take the buffer and dab it in the compound and sort of spread it out some so it wont splatter when the buffer hits it.
I run the buffer on #3 speed till I have hit all of the compound and spread it all over just the right side of the hood. I use the buffer till very little compound is left. I then let the remaining compound dry to a haze, about 10 minutes and wipe it down with a nice cotton towel. Here is the right side finished and the left side untouched. Notice the difference in the clarity of the overhead light reflecting down on the hood.
Another shot of the hood completed from a different angle.
Well that is how it is done. If this was not my truck and I wasn't terribly sore from yesterday, I would use some blue painter's tape and tape off all of the black, chrome and other parts that I do not want the buffer to hit. But I will be careful and not do that. So I do a section at a time, buffing the compound in with the buffer until only a little compound is left. I always let that dry and rest a spell then wipe it off and move on. Allot of dust gathers as you can imagine. But here are some shots of the final product from using the rubbing compound. If it had paint, I hit it with the buffer and compound. Yes the top was very bad and took allot of work, but look for your self and see if you think it was worth it.
This part was by far the worst and of course the hardest. It kicked my butt from 1 end to the other. But it was worth it to me.
These next 3 shots where requested by Aldive. Can you tell what I have done? These are of course after the compound was applied also.
LOL, it made quite a difference didn't it? I think so, and I really like it too. If you don't think for 1 minute I didn't bust butt on this job, just look at my (was) new orange pad after the job was complete.
LOL, I wore it out, ROFL. It wore me out too. I will be calling someone in the morning and do some complaining about the quality of this pad. Hopefully they will send me a new one. But even after 2 washes and using a clay bar, you can see just how much dirt I was digging up under and in the paint itself. While doing the tip top of the truck around the roof racks, I tried to get the buffer to burn a spot. No luck. This buffer performed way above my expectations and caused no burns or marks of any kind on the truck. I applied no pressure what so ever and just held the buffer in place and let it do the work.
Never let it sit in 1 spot though, you have to keep it moving at all times. A very good investment for anyone who wants to do a job like this and keep it up. Remember, we are going for the
"Perfect Shine" here.
Tomorrow, we will do Step 3. We will use another product made to remove swirl marks. This will glass it even more and level out the clear coat even more. So stay tuned.
